Moving chicks outside (low temp)

[Saraschickens]

At 55 these chicks could've been off heat last week and still done fine at night - for point of reference last time I cut chicks off heat the youngest were 34 days old, temps 40F and rainy.

Since you've had them on heat still, it's best to wean them off heat (i.e. taking away the lamp entirely) for a few days first before cutting off the option.

Wow, I feel like my world of chicks has been opened up to a whole new level! But to be fair, my area of knowledge, if any, has been on silkies (which are smaller, more delicate, and "feather" out differently). But I'm starting to see that I can relax on the amount of heat they "need". I always think of all of them as so delicate! This batch is DSL Barnevelders, BC Marans, Tolbunt Polish frizzles, buff Cochins, Porcelain D'uccles, and a couple white Silkies.
I have 21 more chicks that are 1 week old now. What is your opinion (or anyone's opinions) on when they can start staying/sleeping outside? They are mostly D'uccles & Cochins and 3 Silkies.

 

[Saraschickens]

As of last night, they slept outside for their first time! They are right outside my bedroom window (with the window open) so I could hear them all night. The night was projected to be 55°, but only hit 60°.
They had a brooder plate and a heat lamp. They are not used to a red heat lamp all night, normally lights go out at 9:30pm (and inside the house, that light is a 25 watt incandescent). I covered the cage with a couple boards & a shade cloth, to cut the breeze and keep warm in.
At 2:30am I noticed them chirping a lot, not unhappy chirps, but active chirping. When I looked they were having a party and were awake (because of the light I assume). It was 60° outside at that point, which was cooler than they've experienced. So I went out and added a second brooder plate, and covered the cage with a holey tarp, and everyone quieted down and went back to sleep.
This batch of chicks are DSL Barnevelders, BC Marans, Tolbunt Polish frizzles, buff Cochins, Porcelain D'uccles, and a couple white Silkies. The littlest Porcelain D'uccles and Silkies still seem very small and delicate and get very squatty, & head sunken when they get cold. So I was mostly only worried about them.
By 3am the temperature was already rising (up to 62°).
This morning I removed the red heat lamp, and rearranged the 2 brooder plates for tonight so that the light can be off at night. Does that sound right? The plates are off right now, I'll turn them on as the evening/ cold comes.

 

[rosemarythyme]

At 2:30am I noticed them chirping a lot, not unhappy chirps, but active chirping. When I looked they were having a party and were awake (because of the light I assume).

Yes, that's likely because the lights had them awake.

The littlest Porcelain D'uccles and Silkies still seem very small and delicate and get very squatty, & head sunken when they get cold. So I was mostly only worried about them.

If they're good about huddling up with the other chicks at night their combined body heat should be plenty to keep them warmed up.

I have 21 more chicks that are 1 week old now. What is your opinion (or anyone's opinions) on when they can start staying/sleeping outside? They are mostly D'uccles & Cochins and 3 Silkies.

If you plan on continuing with providing heat outside they really can be out now, though I'd probably have them sectioned off from the older chicks for now, unless you have some time to supervise to see how they all get along. At 1 week they should be stable enough to not just get trampled by the older ones but I don't know how energetic your older chicks are or how much space they have to use (the 3x5 would be way too small for both groups of chicks, the 5x10 would be a better bet but they're going to outgrow that super fast as well, as a group).

 

[Saraschickens]

Yes, that's likely because the lights had them awake.


If they're good about huddling up with the other chicks at night their combined body heat should be plenty to keep them warmed up.

If you plan on continuing with providing heat outside they really can be out now, though I'd probably have them sectioned off from the older chicks for now, unless you have some time to supervise to see how they all get along. At 1 week they should be stable enough to not just get trampled by the older ones but I don't know how energetic your older chicks are or how much space they have to use (the 3x5 would be way too small for both groups of chicks, the 5x10 would be a better bet but they're going to outgrow that super fast as well, as a group).

Thank you! That's very helpful information! You're awesome!